Quartz oscillator plateholder



I R. MORSE QUARTZ OSCILLATOR PLATE HOLDER Aug. 12, 1947.

Filed Sept. 21, 1943 Z 62, in -26. f2

INVENTOR. Z 00/6 f8 4/0255 Patented Aug. 12, 1947 QUARTZ OSCILLATORPLATEHOLDER Louis R. Morse, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Reeves Hoffman Corporation, Carlisle, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application September 21, 1943, Serial No.503,246

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to quartz oscillator plate holders and has forits object certain improvements in their construction.

Holders of various designs have been proposed for quartz oscillatorplates. For the most part they are not readily assemblable or tend tofail in service. These holders are widely used in radio circuits, forexample, transmitters and receivers in planes, tanks, field signaldevices, etc., and are, therefore, subjected to considerable roughtreatment. They must not only be weather-proof but must be able towithstand a great deal of rough treatment without impairing thefrequency rating of the oscillator plate mounted therein.

I have discovered a holder which, for the most part, overcomes thedisadvantages of the holders heretofore proposed. Its parts may bereadily assembled to complete the holder and once put together theholder is sufiiciently durable to Withstand considerable rough usagewithout impairing the frequency value of its oscillator plate.

The quartz oscillator plate holder of the invention comprises a casing;a pair of external socket prongs secured to the casing; a pair of spacedsliding contacts in the casing, each sliding contact connecting with thebase of a socket prong; a removable chase in the casing between thesliding contacts, the walls of the chase being provided with a pluralityof projecting stops and the projecting stops being spaced inrelationship to one another to accommodate a pair of electrodes, a.quartz crystal oscillator plate and a spring conductor and to provide afree space between the walls of the case and the edges of the electrodesand oscillator plate, so that contact of the oscillator plate with thechase is limited to the projecting stops.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawing, taken in conjunction with the following description, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in cross-section of a holder illustrative of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, with the top removed showing the casing ofthe holder and its interior before the chase assembly is inserted;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the chase assembly before it isinserted in the casing;

Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end views, respectively, of the chase itself;and

Figs. 8 and 9 are side and end views, respectively, of one of a pair ofelectrodes going into the chase assembly.

The holder shown comprises a, casing Ill, a pair of external socketprongs H and I2 secured to the bottom of the casing, a pair of spacedsliding contacts l3 and Id in the casing, aremovable chase l5 in thecasing between the contacts, a pair of electrodes l6 and ll, a quartzoscillator plate l8 and a spring conductor IS The casing is made ofsuitable insulating and weather-proof material. It is provided at itsbottom with a pair of holes 20 and 2| to receive the socket prongs, thelower ends of holes terminating in enlarged recesses 22 and 23 and theupper ends of the holes in enlarged recesses 24 and 25 to provide anintermediate raised abutment 2%. The casing walls provide a hollowinterior 2? to receive the sliding contacts and the chase assembly. Theend walls 28 and 29 of the casing are provided at their top with a pairof holes 3% and Si, respectively, each of which is snugly fitted with athreaded sleeve 32. The tops of the casing walls have an inner raisedcentral portion 35 adapted to fit into a complementary recessed portion36 in a removable cover 31. A flexible washer or gasket 38 fits betweenthe cover and the top walls of the casing. The cover is provided with apair of holes 40 and 4| with enlarged recesses adapted to receive theheads of screws 42 and 43 fitting in sleeves 32.

Socket prongs H and i2 are provided with sprung retainer washers t5 and46 adapted to fit in recesses 22 and 23. The prongs extend into thebottom of the casing, their upper ends being threaded to engage nuts 41and 48.

Sliding contacts [3 and [4 are zig-zag in shape as shown, so that theirlower ends fit over the prongs. Nuts ll and 48 are tightly screwed onthe prongs so that the sliding contacts and prongs are in electricalcontact. The upper ends of the sliding contacts extend along the sidesand midway of the walls of the casing, terminating just short'of thetops thereof.

Chase I5 is shown in various views in Figs, 1-3 and 5-7. It consistsgenerally of a rectangular frame with rounded outer corners. The chaseis constructed of suitable insulating material, preferably with a highdielectric constant. Its walls have a very special configuration toadapt it to the presently preferred practice of the invention. Sidewalls 59 and El are substantially parallel and of the same height. Thelower wall 52 is provided with a protruding shoulder 53, which isadapted to engage intermediate raised abutment 3 26 at the bottom of thecasing, between nuts 4'! and 4B, and thus provide clearance spaces 54and 55 between the lower corners or the chase and the nuts and prongs.The lower wall is spaced between the side walls to provide clearancespaces 56 on the sides thereof to accommodate the slid ing contacts. Theupper wall 60 is provided with an intermediate portion 6|, having aheight less than that of the adjoining wall portion, to pro videclearance spaces 62 and 63 on the sides of the intermediate portion,likewise to accommodate the sliding contacts. Each of the inner cornersof the chase has a small angular projecting stop 64 extending into theinterior, thus providing a clearance space 65 along the major portion ofthe inside of each wall. These projecting stops function as guides andstops for the electrodes and oscillator plate.

Electrodes l6 and I1 may be of conventional metal construction, asshown. Each electrode is rectangular in shape and each corner of atleast one side or face has a raised portion which together provide arecessed portion N that extends across most of the side or face of theelectrode to the edges thereof. When the oscillating plate is sandwichedbetween a pair of the electrodes with the recessed portions facing theoscillating plate, they provide air gaps l2 and 13, as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, because the raised corner portionsll] of the electrodes bear against the oscillating plate at its corners.

Quartz crystal oscillator plate 18 is any conventional type or cut. Theone shown is rectangular in shape, substantially of the size of theelectrodes. As in standard holders, it is sandwiched between theelectrodes.

Spring conductor l9 may also be of the conventional type. The oneillustrated is generally rectangular in outline but somewhat smallerthan the electrodes, with its center portion curved and bent upwardly asshown. The bent portion is sufiiciently high to give it the requiredspring action to maintain electrical contact between it, its adjacentsliding contact and adjacent electrode, as well as to force and maintainthe other electrode in electrical contact with the other slidingcontact.

In assembling the holder, the following procedure may be employed:

Socket prongs H and 12, with washers 45 and 46 mounted thereon, areinserted in holes 29 and 2| in the bottom of the casing i0. Slidingcontacts I3 and M are then passed into the casing so that their lowerbent-over ends fit over the threaded ends of the socket prongs. Nuts 4'!and 48 are screwed onto the ends of the prongs to make a tightelectrical contact between the prongs and the contacts. Quartz oscillatoplate I8 is sandwiched between electrodes l6 and IT, the electrodesbeing arranged so that their raised corner portions 10 bear against theoscillating plate at its corners. The electrodes and plate are placed inthe interior of the chase IS with spring conductor l9 resting on one orthe other electrode. The resulting chase assembly is then inserted intothe casing with protruding shoulder 53 of the chase pointed towardintermediate raised abutment 26 in the bottom of the interior of thecasing. As the chase assembly is pushed into the casing, the springconductor is in sliding engagement with one of the electrodes while theother electrode is in sliding engagement with the other sliding contact.When the chase assembly has been completely inserted, flexible washer orgasket 38 is placed in position, removable cover 3'! is placed over thetop of the casing and screws 42 and 43 are tightly screwed in sleeves32. Recesses 22 and 23 in the bottom of the casing are preferably filledwith a moisture proof sealing compound.

It will be clear to those skilled in this art that the holder of theinvention may be readily and accurately assembled and that theoscillator plate may be mounted in such a manner as to assure itsoperative position under all conditions of actual use. The plate cannotslide away from its installed position. Gaps of predetermined size arealways maintained about the plate, its edges as well as its faces. Thisnovel construction assures a holder the oscillator plate of whicheffectively retains its frequency rating.

I claim:

1. In a quartz oscillator plate holder, the improvement comprising acasing, a pair of external socket prongs secured to the casing, a pairof spaced sliding contacts in the casing, each sliding contactconnecting with the base of a socket prong, a removable chase in thecasing between the sliding contacts, the walls of the chase beingprovided with a plurality of projecting stops and the projecting stopsbeing spaced in relationship to one another to accommodate a pair ofelectrodes, a quartz crystal oscillator plate, and a spring conductorand to provide a free space between the walls of the chase and the edgesof the electrodes and oscillator plate, whereby contact of theoscillator plate with the chase is limited to the projecting stops.

2. A quartz oscillator plate holder according to claim 1, in which eachinside corner of the chase is provided with one of said projectingstops.

3. A quartz oscillator plate holder according to claim 1, in whichopposite walls of the chase are indented to accommodate the slidingcontacts.

l. In a quartz oscillator plate holder, the improvement comprising acasing, a pair of external socket prongs secured to the casing, a pairof spaced sliding contacts in the casing, each sliding contactconnecting with the base of a socket prong, a removable chase in thecasing between the sliding contacts, the walls of the chase beingprovided with a projecting stop at each inside corner, a pair ofelectrodes, a quartz oscillator plate disposed between the electrodes,said electrodes and oscillator plate being mounted in said chase, and aspring conductor disposed between and in engagement with one of theelectrodes and its sliding contact to keep the other electrode inengagement with its sliding contact, said projecting stops in thecorners of the chase being spaced in relationship to one another toaccommodate the electrodes and oscillator plate and to provide a freespace between the wall of the chase and the edges of the electrodes andoscillator plate, whereby contact of the oscillator plate with the chaseis limited to the projecting stops, the lower wall of the chase beingprovided with a projecting central portion resting against acomplementary projecting central portion at the bottom of the casing. J

5. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the walls of the chase being provided with a plurality ofprojecting stops and the projecting stops being spaced in relationshipto one another to accommodate a pair of electrodes, a quartz crystaloscillator plate and a spring conductor and to provide a free spacebetween the walls of the chase and the edges of the electrodes andoscillator plate, whereby contact of the oscillator plate with the chaseis limited to the projecting stops.

6. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the walls of the chase being provided with a projecting stopat each inside corner and the projecting stops being spaced inrelationship to one another to accommodate a pair of electrodes, aquartz crystal oscillator plate and a spring conductor and to provide afree space between the Walls of the chase and the edges of theelectrodes and oscillator plate, whereby contact of the oscillator platewith the chase is limited to the proj ecting stops.

7. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the walls of the chase being provided with a plurality ofprojecting stops and the projecting stops being spaced in relationshipto one another to accommodate a pair of electrodes, a quartz crystaloscillator plate and a spring conductor and to provide a free spacebetween the walls of the chase and the edges of the electrodes andoscillator plate, whereby contact of the oscillator plate With the chaseis limited to the projecting stops, opposite walls of the chase beingindented to accommodate the sliding contacts.

8. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the walls of the chase being provided with a projecting stopat each inside corner and the projecting stops being spaced inrelationship to one another to accommodate a pair of electrodes, aquartz crystal oscillator plate and a spring conductor and to provide afree space between the walls of the chase and the edges of theelectrodes and oscillator plate, whereby contact of the oscillator platewith the chase is limited to the projecting stops, opposite walls of thechase being indented to accommodate the sliding contacts.

9. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the lower wall of the chase being provided with a projectingcentral portion adapted to rest against a complementary projectingcentral portion at the bottom of the casing, so that free spaces areprovided on both sides of said projecting central portions.

10. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the lower wall of the chase being provided with a projectingcentral portion adapted to rest against a complementary projectingcentral portion at the bottom of the casing, so that free spaces areprovided on both sides of said projecting central portions, the walls ofthe chase being provided with a plurality of projecting stops and theprojecting stops being spaced in relationship to one another toaccommodate a pair of electrodes, a quartz crystal oscillator plate anda spring conductor and to provide a free space between the walls of thechase and the edges of the electrodes and oscillator plate,

whereby contact of the oscillator plate with the chase is limited to theprojecting stops.

11. In a quartz oscillator plate holder of the type described, theimprovement comprising a removable chase adapted to fit in the casing ofthe holder, the lower wall of the chase being provided with a projectingcentral portion adapted to rest against a complementary projectingcentral portion at the bottom of the casing, so that free spaces areprovided on both sides of said projecting central portions, the walls ofthe chase being provided with a projecting stop at each inside cornerand the projecting stops being spaced in relationship to one another toaccommodate a pair of electrodes, a quartz crystal oscillator plate anda spring conductor and to provide a free space between the walls of thechase and the edges of the electrodes and oscillator plate, wherebycontact of the oscillator plate with the chase is limited to theprojecting stops.

12. A container for radio crystals comprising a casing body having acavity that is open at one end of the casing body, stationary contactsexposed at opposite sides of the casing cavity and having terminals thatproject through the casing body, a drawer-like receptacle adapted toslide into and out of the casing cavity and having an opening throughits central portion to which the opposite stationary contacts areexposed when the drawer is in operative position, a crystal, a pair ofcontact elements between which the crystal is disposed, one of saidcontact elements being laterally resilient, said crystal and oppositecontact elements being disposed within the open central portion of thedrawerlike receptacle for unitary movements therewith into and out ofthe casing cavity and being laterally removable from said drawer-likereceptacle when the receptacle is removed from the cavity, said contactelements engaging opposite fixed contacts of the casing when inoperative position and said laterally resilient contact elementmaintaining a yielding pressure on the parts interposed between theopposite casing contacts, and a cover for said casing cavity.

13. The structure defined in claim 12 in which the said stationarycasing contacts ar in the nature of flat strips lying along oppositesides of the casing cavity and in which the terminals thereof are in thenature of contact prongs that extend through the casing body at its endopposite the opening thereof, said contact strips being electricallyconnected to opposite of said prongs and extending therefrom toward theopen end of the casing cavity.

14. The structure defined in claim 12 in which the drawer-likereceptacle snugly fits in the casing cavity and closely embraces theedges of the crystal and opposite contact elements contained therein.

LOUIS R. MORSE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Diehl Oct. 31, 1939Number

